Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz today chaired the regular weekly session of the Council of Ministers, and briefed the Cabinet on talks held by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz and himself with visiting Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak, which dealt with international developments as well as bilateral relations. The Cabinet welcomed and endorsed the joint Saudi-Egyptian statement affirming that the Arab countries are proceeding on the track of development, modernization and reform in line not only with their peoples' interests, values, needs, and particularities, but with the Arab identity; and agreed that Arab countries reject the imposition of reformist patterns from abroad. The cabinet also welcomed Saudi-Egyptian agreement on a joint stance towards reform of the Arab condition, to be submitted to the upcoming meeting in Cairo of foreign ministers of the League of Arab States.

The Cabinet stressed that in order to achieve stability in the Middle East just and fair solutions must be found to issues such as those of Palestine and Iraq, and attending to these issues will contribute to Arab efforts for reform, development and prosperity. Referring to ongoing deliberations at the International Court of Justice, the Cabinet reiterated the illegality of the wall of segregation being built by Israel in the West Bank, saying it poses a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and all relevant international resolutions and agreements, and that it not only isolates the Palestinians, but obstructs all peace initiatives and resolutions that seek a just solution to the conflict. Turning to domestic issues, the cabinet passed a number of resolutions, including authorization for the Governor of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVT) to negotiate a draft memorandum of understanding with the Philippines.